uh oh!

[sourland]

About to hatch. Sit down, take a deep breath and relax. It will be easier next time.

 

[coltssuperbowl83]

heh i hope so..... Why when you put the eggs into the bator does it take some longer than other? I knew it wouldn't all happen at the same time but figured at least it would happen within an hour or two....... they are both under the same circumstances for the same length of time right?

 

[Rainwolf]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
That just seems counter-intuitive to me. Why not candle, and not take the risk of drowning a viable egg?

Oh well... whatever's easiest and works. I guess I've never seen a hen candle an egg either...

There are many eggs you can not candle, either the shell is to dark or thick to see anything.

I personally let my eggs sit until they are 3 days late. The ones I can candle I do, its quick and easy.
The ones I can not candle (quail eggs are all but impossible to see and I also have Maran's) I float test to see if they are still alive. They do not drown as the egg floats if it has a proper air cell. If I see movement I pull the egg and put back in the incubator then check the others.

If not for the float testing I'd have tossed a few live growing chicks.

But I do not float until they are 3 days late. (3 days after last chick hatched or if no hatch 3 days after due date.)​

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
That just seems counter-intuitive to me. Why not candle, and not take the risk of drowning a viable egg?

Oh well... whatever's easiest and works. I guess I've never seen a hen candle an egg either...

There are many eggs you can not candle, either the shell is to dark or thick to see anything.

I personally let my eggs sit until they are 3 days late. The ones I can candle I do, its quick and easy.
The ones I can not candle (quail eggs are all but impossible to see and I also have Maran's) I float test to see if they are still alive. They do not drown as the egg floats if it has a proper air cell. If I see movement I pull the egg and put back in the incubator then check the others.

If not for the float testing I'd have tossed a few live growing chicks.

But I do not float until they are 3 days late. (3 days after last chick hatched or if no hatch 3 days after due date.)

I raise Marans, too, and candle them just fine. Just takes the right light.

Haven't found an egg I can't see into yet. I just don't toss eggs until I know for sure there's no movement.

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
I've had early hatches and late hatches when I started.

If the temp is even 1 degree low that can extend the hatch date out a couple days.

I have a hatching right now that is 1 day late most likely due to a power outage I had and the incubator temp dropped to around 70F before power was restored.

Same if its 1 degree high they can hatch early...

Chicks can sometimes hatch a day apart. the first is normally solo for a little while and calls the others, then a batch pops out.. then you might have a couple "late bloomers" after the main hatching.

Just hang out and enjoy... glue hands inside pockets

 

[Rainwolf]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
There are many eggs you can not candle, either the shell is to dark or thick to see anything.

I personally let my eggs sit until they are 3 days late. The ones I can candle I do, its quick and easy.
The ones I can not candle (quail eggs are all but impossible to see and I also have Maran's) I float test to see if they are still alive. They do not drown as the egg floats if it has a proper air cell. If I see movement I pull the egg and put back in the incubator then check the others.

If not for the float testing I'd have tossed a few live growing chicks.

But I do not float until they are 3 days late. (3 days after last chick hatched or if no hatch 3 days after due date.)

I raise Marans, too, and candle them just fine. Just takes the right light.

Haven't found an egg I can't see into yet. I just don't toss eggs until I know for sure there's no movement.​

I'm new to the marans and have a really hard time seeing inside them and I try and candle but if if can't tell and they are late I float.
I started float testing with my quails which are near impossible with all the brown paint they have

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
I raise Marans, too, and candle them just fine. Just takes the right light.

Haven't found an egg I can't see into yet. I just don't toss eggs until I know for sure there's no movement.

I'm new to the marans and have a really hard time seeing inside them and I try and candle but if if can't tell and they are late I float.
I started float testing with my quails which are near impossible with all the brown paint they have

My husband has a 2M CP (2 million candlepower) spotlight that a metal coffee can will fit over. I cut a half-dollar sized hole in the bottom, and strap it to the spotlight. I guarantee you will see into Marans eggs NO problem. Coturnix eggs aren't hard if you candle them before you stop turning... I lay the spotlight on its back, with the coffee can hole up, and take the whole tray of quail eggs and run them over the light (still in the tray). The clears really stand out. The dark ones I leave in and stop turning. If they're not hatched by 20 days, they end up with curled toes and crooked necks, and don't survive anyway.

I'm not saying the float test doesn't work... I guess I'm old-school in that I leave them be and don't touch them until it's been 3-4 days past when they should hatch. I always candle my eggs before placing them in the hatcher (I have two 1502s going with hatches every week in the spring/summer, so I candle a lot) and I pull the clears then. Unless I need space in the incubator to set more eggs, that is... then I will candle earlier

 

[Rainwolf]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

My husband has a 2M CP (2 million candlepower) spotlight that a metal coffee can will fit over. I cut a half-dollar sized hole in the bottom, and strap it to the spotlight. I guarantee you will see into Marans eggs NO problem. Coturnix eggs aren't hard if you candle them before you stop turning... I lay the spotlight on its back, with the coffee can hole up, and take the whole tray of quail eggs and run them over the light (still in the tray). The clears really stand out. The dark ones I leave in and stop turning. If they're not hatched by 20 days, they end up with curled toes and crooked necks, and don't survive anyway.

I'm not saying the float test doesn't work... I guess I'm old-school in that I leave them be and don't touch them until it's been 3-4 days past when they should hatch. I always candle my eggs before placing them in the hatcher (I have two 1502s going with hatches every week in the spring/summer, so I candle a lot) and I pull the clears then. Unless I need space in the incubator to set more eggs, that is... then I will candle earlier

Can I have that spotlight?

I think you could visually inspect each and every bone in you hand with that spotlight

I have a large incubator and so far have not needed the room so I send them all to the hatcher for lockdown. (I have a large wine cooler hatcher right now. soon the be a incubator with racks but still working on auto turner.)​

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Can I have that spotlight?

I think you could visually inspect each and every bone in you hand with that spotlight

I have a large incubator and so far have not needed the room so I send them all to the hatcher for lockdown. (I have a large wine cooler hatcher right now. soon the be a incubator with racks but still working on auto turner.)

Anyone takes my spotlight, they will have a fight on their hands!!

It works really well... I highly recommend it for the Marans. In a sufficiently dark room (which is rare here in AK in the summer!) you can see the minutest movement in there...

 

[DPC poultry]

I would probable take a small sharp object and CAREFULLY chip a VERRY small hole in one of the eggs if you here chirping within a few minutes thats great! but if you don't you can expect the worst, good luck!